I Ratti Della Sabina
Circobirò

"This evening, this evening there will be, just imagine the fantastic show of the grand Circobirò! So come, gentlemen, under the tent sky this evening, this evening to feel an emotion. And I'm sure, I am sure your eyes will be amazed at what they will see, I'm sure that they will almost surely not believe it."

"Circobirò," the third work of Ratti Della Sabina released in 2003, sincere and pleasant folk rock that conveys emotions without falling into rhetoric, only enveloping notes full of passion and color in a perfect balance between electric and acoustic atmospheres.

Stories of marginalization, stories of madness, stories about men and characters created by the two authors and band members, Roberto Billi (vocals, transverse flute, tin whistle, harmonica, acoustic guitar) and Stefano Fiori (vocals, organetto, acoustic guitar) while the other Ratti are Eugenio Lupi (electric, acoustic guitar and banjo), Paolo Masci (mandolin, balalaika, bouzouki and slide guitar), Alberto Ricci (accordion), Alessandro Monzi (violin), Valerio Manelfi (electric bass, double bass, and acoustic bass) and Carlo Ferretti (drums and percussion).

Characters created from nothing like "Il Funambolo", a master of madness who flies on the rope chasing thoughts, like the "Mercante" who arrives to buy the weaknesses of people selling the illusion of happiness, this piece also features Cisco (Modena City Ramblers) on vocals. Characters inspired by stories and tales from other authors such as "Il Giocoliere", inspired by Gianni Rodari, "L'uomo che piantava alberi" and "Il Violinista Pazzo" drawn from the stories of writer Jean Giono and poet Fernando Pessoa, respectively.

But the show is not over yet, other characters need to appear and parade on stage:

"And don’t think it's over because still missing from our call, is the crazy player who rants in block letters but I swear, I swear I've met few like him who can rule the rats with a flute."

"Il Pifferaio Magico", a northern fairy tale adapted to the places and dialect of the Sabina area, the bandit from "La Morale dei Briganti" (a poem inspired by the figure and deeds of Berardino Viola) and again "La Tarantella del Serpente" once again in dialect, undoubtedly the most driving piece of the entire work, a meeting between the tradition of the most sincere folk and rock, a perfect meeting point:

"Oh my! I named him, now what will happen to me? His name should never be pronounced. Now I only hope that fate is kind. In the meantime, let's sing and dance without thinking about it to the tarantella, to the tarantella of the serpent."

"Linea 670" tells stories of marginalization, there is the life of Romani children and their families described in those few verses: "Children play, children play among car wrecks, washing machines, and tires, children play, children play, hidden at the bottom of a well where the thoughts drown... They are thieves, bandits, ragamuffins, delinquents, vagabonds, landless people, dirty and cocky, always better than ties, collars, and white teeth, which if they give with one hand, take with the other for twenty" and "Seila" simply delivers to the record a touching and intense ballad, a ray of sunshine shining over time and seasons, river water flowing away until it gradually gets lost in the sea...

Overall, it is a mature work, that collects songs already recorded on the two previous records in a new musical and graphic guise (cover by Francesco Musante), for those interested, I recommend also listening to the subsequent live album recorded at a concert in Rome: "...under the tent sky".

"Now, if with all this I have given you conviction, soon, come gentlemen under the tent sky, the show will start soon, so go ahead without pushing as there is enough room for everyone. And I think that, I really think your eyes will be amazed at everything they will finally be able to see at the grand Circobirò" - Circobirò